Questions tagged [improper-integrals]

Questions involving improper integrals, defined as the limit of a definite integral as an endpoint of the interval of integration approaches either a specified real number or $\infty$ or $-\infty$, or as both endpoints approach limits.

An improper integral is defined as the limit of a definite integral as an endpoint of the interval of integration approaches either a specified real number or $\infty$ or $-\infty$, or as both endpoints approach limits.

Specifically, an improper integral is a limit of the form:

$$\lim_{b\to \infty} \int_{a}^{b} f(x) \ dx \,,\ \lim_{a \to -\infty} \int_{a}^{b} f(x) \ dx$$ or of the form $$\lim_{c \to b^{-}} \int_{a}^{c} f(x) \ dx \,,\ \lim_{c \to a^{+}} \int_{c}^{b} f(x) \ dx$$

in which one takes a limit in one or the other (or sometimes both) endpoints.

Often, we can compute values for improper integrals, even when the function cannot be integrated in the conventional sense (as a Riemann integral, for instance), because of a singularity in the function or because one of the bounds of integration is infinite.

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When does a limit diverge to infinity and when does it not exist?

Sometimes the limit does not exist and sometimes the it diverges to infinity Here is an example: $$\lim_{t\to\infty}\ln(\cos t)dt $$ Why does it not exist? I think its infinity, isn't it? And here $$\lim_{t\to\pi/2}\ln (\sec t+\tan t)…
user32104
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Solve this improper integral: $\int_0^1 \ln{(x - 1)} \ dx$

$$\int_0^1 \ln{(x - 1)} \ dx$$ I don't know how to solve this integral. My teacher says the solution is $-1$ but I don't know how to reach this result.
Zaida
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Proving an improper integral diverges

Let $f:\mathbb R \to \mathbb R$, with $f \in C^1$ and $f'>0$. Suppose there exists $x_0 \in \mathbb R$ such that $f(x_0)>0$. Prove that $\space \space$ $\int_0^{+\infty} f(t)dt$ $\space$ is divergent. I don't have a any idea how could I prove…
user100106
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Understanding improper integrals

$$\int_1^{\infty} \frac1x \left( \int_{x}^{2x} \frac{1}{1+t^2}dt \right) dx \leqslant \int_1^{\infty} \frac1x \left( \int_{x}^{2x} \frac{1}{1+x^2}dt \right) dx$$ and $$\int_1^{\infty} \frac1x \left( \int_{x}^{2x} \frac{1}{1+x^2}dt \right) dx =…
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Nature of the improper integral $\int_{0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{1}{t}}dt$

I want to show that $\int_{0}^{\infty}{\dfrac{1}{t}}dt$ is divergent. Now we have a problem of boundedness of $f(t)=\dfrac{1}{t}$ on $t=0$ and we have a problem of boundedness of the domain $(0,\infty)$ So we treat each problem apart by…
palio
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$\int \frac{e^{-x}}{\sqrt{x}}\,\mathrm dx$

I have been working on this problem but I am not sure in which direction to head with this. Am I supposed to do an integration by parts first? $$\int \frac{e^{-x}}{\sqrt{x}}\,\mathrm dx$$ This would…
Rubin
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proving converge of an improper integral via riemann

I need to show if the following integral converges: $$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\left|\sin{1 \over x}\right|\,\mathrm dx$$ my idea for the solution is to show that the serie of rectangles that are blocked within the sin function does not converge. but…
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How can it be proven that $\operatorname{li}(x)=\operatorname{Ei}(\log⁡ x)$?

How to show that $\operatorname{li}(x)=\operatorname{Ei}(\log x)$? Here, $\operatorname{li}(x)$ and $\operatorname{Ei}(x)$ are defined as: $$\operatorname{li}(x)=\int_0^x\frac{\mathrm dt}{\log…
Jesús
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Determine all values of $a\geq0$ such that the improper integral is convergent.

Determine all values of $a\geq0$ such that the improper integral $$\int^\infty_0\frac{\ln(1+x+x^a)}{x\sqrt{x}}$$ is convergent. Since $D(\ln(1+x+x^a))=\frac{1+ax^{a-1}}{1+x+x^a}$ we have that $\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}\frac{\ln(1+x+x^a)}{x}=1$ by LH…
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How to determine whether this improper integral is convergent or not?

The improper integral is $$\int^1_0\frac{e^x-1-x}{x^2\sqrt{x}}dx.$$ It is from an old calculus exam. It should be convergent. I've looked around on how to solve it but I've had no success at all. Edit:…
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How to solve Improper integrals by contour integration

I'm trying to solve the following integral $$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{\cos(2πx)}{x^4+4}$$ But I don't know how to approach it, could someone help me?
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Can you give me an example of function $f$'s improper integral converges but $f\cdot f$'s integral doesn't converge?

Could you provide me with an example: a function $f$ is a positive continuous function, and the integral of $f$ from $a$ to positive infinity converges, but the integral of the square of $f$ from a to positive infinity does not converge.
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Can we check convergence of a improper integral with Absolute Convergence series test?

I can't write the function properly, so I use MS Word and pasting picture:
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does the integral converge? $\int_1^\infty \frac{2 + \cos(x)}{x^{3/2} + 3} $

I tried to find out if this integral converges and I failed. $$\int_1^\infty \frac{2 + \cos(x)}{x\sqrt{x} + 3} $$ I know that $$ -1 \leq \cos(x) \leq 1, $$ $$ 1 \leq 2 + \cos(x) \leq 3$$ And for $$x \rightarrow \infty, $$ $$ x\sqrt{x} + 3…
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How to derive the principle value of the exponential integral ($\mathrm{Ei}(x)$) when $x>0$?

I am trying to derive the value of the exponential integral $\int_{-\infty}^{x}\frac{e^{t}}{t}\mathrm{d}t$ when $x>0$. I understand that we are integrating through a singularity at $x=0$, so I tried to use the PV in Cauchy's sense, here is what I…
Shine
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